McCoy focused on next level

Philadelphia Eagles LeSean McCoy scores a touchdown against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field last season.

LeSean McCoy quickly proved he was a weapon for the Philadelphia Eagles with the football in his possession, running for a team rookie-record 637 yards and catching 40 passes for another 300-plus yards last year.

Now he's trying to take his game to the next level, and much of that improvement is happening when the ball isn't in his hands.

The Eagles expect their running backs to do more than run and catch, and McCoy has focused on doing the off-the-ball things that will allow him to become the full-time starter the team expects him to be in his second season.

"Be a lot smarter, know the offense a little better," McCoy said of his expected upgrade this season. "Playing a little faster I think is one of the biggest things. In your first year, it's just trying to get out there and play. Now I know what's going on. I know what to look for."

McCoy, who returned Tuesday from a one-day absence due to a quadriceps contusion, is about 10 pounds heavier this season than he was as a rookie, when he was listed at 198 pounds. But rather than just adding pounds, McCoy said he put on muscle.

"It was just dropping a lot of bad weight," said McCoy. "I was carrying some bad weight from college. It was just toning up a little bit; looking more lean."

McCoy's understanding of the offense is tighter, too, especially as it relates to blocking. Offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg first said McCoy wanted to improve in specific areas, without identifying them.

But pressed, he admitted that better blocking has been a focus for McCoy, and that it's starting to show.

"There's no question there," said Mornhinweg. "We do a lot of adjustments and calls. It gets quite complicated up front with the backs and tight ends and the line regarding protection. So there comes a time where it becomes very simple in your mind, and he's to that point now. It's (McCoy's improvement) night and day protection-wise, and he's a good, physical guy."

Brian Westbrook, the Eagles' primary back for the last six years and McCoy's teacher during his rookie season, was strong in blitz pickup. So was Westbrook's predecessor, Duce Staley, who has been providing some firsthand instruction as a coaching intern in training camp.

"The biggest thing is he played this game for a while, especially in this offense, and it really hasn't changed at all," said McCoy of Staley, who played seven years with the Eagles, including head coach Andy Reid's first five years. "He's helping me see things the way he saw it. He was so successful, especially with little keys on running plays and making it a little easier for us to block defenders and stuff like that. His thing is looking at it as a quarterback and learning the defense."

McCoy is learning, too, and quarterback Kevin Kolb can see the difference.

"The thing I like about Shady is his confidence," said Kolb. "He understands the offense now. He's playing fast, he's playing fearless, and when he does that, he's so talented that you can see that extra step. He's got that extra kick right now, and hopefully he'll keep that the rest of the season."